Illuminating-torch



(N Model.)

RICH & J. D. NORTH.

0.171. WIDGBR, G. H.

Patented IVIay 3l, |881..

Illuminating;r Torch Invenors:

n f Q...

Iig. 1.

Charles H. Widyer. Gemye H Rich 9%.# Jn/lea (W'Oh sufran States CHARLES H. WIDGER, 'GEURGE H. RICH, AND JAMES D. N0RTH,YOF LYNN,

MASSACHUSETTS.

i BLLUM lNATlNGaTORCl-i.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,241, dated May 31, 1881.

i Application filed September-29, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it 'may concern: i,

Be it known that we, CHARLES H. WIDGER, GEORGE H. Rien, and JAMES D. N oa'rn, all of Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certa-in new and useful Improvements in Illuminating-Torches, of which the following is a specification.

Referring to the. drawings forming pait of this application, Figure 1 is a central longitudi nal section of a torch in which our invention is embodied. Fig.l 2 is a sideelevation, showing cert-ain details in construction. Fig. 3 is an illustration of the principal form of pyro technic signals or lire-balls used in connection with this invention.

This invention relates to a torch for illumt' nating and pyroteehnic display; and it consists in a structure which is illustrated in 'the acl companying drawings, and pointed out in the claim.

Ain the drawings-indicates anysuitablepat.` tern of illuminating-torch, in which a is the wick-tube, communicating with a surrounding olreservoir, B; This wick-tube should surround an inner tube, B', which 'extends downward below the oil-reservoir for somedistance,

' and has a clear straight bore from end to end.

Within this tube B', and occupying somewhat more) than halt' its length, is placeda strong 'spiralV spring,.D, having ahead or plunger, C,

vfrom the centerof which a straight rod orsvire,

E, extends downward tothe bottom coil of the said spring, where it passes through 'an aperture/in a rigidly-attached plate or block,-.F,

upn which the spring D rests.' Beneath thisz block may beinserted a second plunger-head,

C', to which `the lower end ofthe rod E4 is half of the tube is` empty, leaving space for the CD -be compressed by any convenientmeansas,

secnred," Both the plunger C andthe head (l' are of Idiameter slightly smaller than., 4ith/'e diameter of the tube B' inside, in order'to' avoid binding or scraping. The spring D is so located that it occupies the upper portion of the tube when not compressed, bringing the plunger-C justbeneath the open mouth. of the tube and vbelow the plane of the wick. The lower movement of the lower plunger, C', which adapted to move downward with the rod when the sprix g is compressed. The springm `for example, by a pin, b, which is attached to the lower plunger, C', or to the rod E, andr projects through a slot in the tube or barrel B'.

(Shown at G in Fig. 2.) By drawing this piu to the bottom of the slot G the spring will be conipressed to its highest tension, and in order to retain it at that point an oli'set vor detcnt-SIot, d, Fig. 2, maybe formed in ythe edge of the vertical slotG, into which the'pin4 b may be caught and held until the moment comes torelease it.

F' is an opening in the wall of the tube B,`ot'

-suliicient size to admit a fire-'signal or pyrotechn ic projectile ofthe kind we propose to use.

This opening maybe covered byan automatic slide or' gate actuated bythe descending plun ger G,- or it, may be so located that 'whenthe pin b is caught byits detaining'notch. or detent said opening F' shall be below the level of the plunger`C, in which case the detent notch or slot d should be placed a little above the point vof lowest descent of the plunger, in order that the iatter may be drawn below the openin g to receive the projectile, and when held by the detent may lie so far above its lowest edge that the said projectile cannot fall out by reason of Vthe accidental inclination ofthe torch.

A'.l Fig.' 3, is a representation of the form of fireballv mentioned above, and which resem- 'bles, int-many respects, those used in Roman candles and similar tire-works. Thesenballs are generally cylindrical in shape; but they.

maybe made spherical, as shown at A2, Fig. 3,." In the form first mentioned we apply to the upper 'end of the ball or projectile a friction-paste of any suitable kind. Many diierent compositions ofthis character are well t known'i'n the market, and many of those best known would fully answer our purpose, as we only require a paste which will kinldle s urely and quickly'upon being exposed to a short, sharp friction.y :We `apply the friction-paste. to the halbes shown in Fig. 3 ate, manner that-it will projectV beyond the periphery ot' the ball somewhat, (the degree of projection being exaggerated in the drawings.)

ogh the latter without binding or :ithin the tube B', and .j ust above the point in such arnetcrs of this projectile and ofthe tube espectively such that the former can of the tube B', and at that particular point..

5 contracts its diameter somewhat. .The degree to which-this contraction takes place is such thatthe ball A cannot pass upward without the frietion-coatin g e comin g into contact with the frictional lining I, whereby the said paste rois instantly ignited and the ire is communicated to the powder of the ball. The operation o'this device is as follows: Y When-the torch is lighted the liame'from' the wick surrounds the open end of the tube B',- 15 but leaves a clear orifice for the passage of tho ball. In order to load the tube the finger is placed upon the pin b and it is 'drawn to the lowest point ot' the slot G, wherethe plunger will lie below the, opening F', .thereby giving 2p ready admission to the projectile. The latterv being inserted-,the pin b is set in the detent d until the ball is to he discharged, when it` is merely thrown out ofthe said detent and into the vertical slot G. After its insertion the ba'll 25' lies just below the friction-lining I, and as the pin is released and the spring D projects the ball through the tube'the irst mot-ion dri 'ves the crown or ring ot' friction-paste violently.'

over the frictional surface I, thereby igniting 3o' it. Within an instant, and before the fire can reach the powder, the spring projects the ball from the mouth of the tube and drives it high into the air, whereits' combustion may be seen from a great distance. x 3 5 Instead of the cylindrical form ot' ball shown at A, Fig. 3 it may be found desirableto use a spherical ball-as, for instance, 'that shown in Fig. 3 at A. In this form the friction-paste Paten t.

should be applied to the ball in the manner shown in the drawings-viz., in a thick stripe 4o passing around the ball at' ter.. The operation of this d l iswholly noiseless, and in every sense de' of the slightest danger either to the operator or to the specl-tators. The display usually made by a torchlight procession may be enhanced'rpore than l hundredfold by'fnrnishing each torch with invention. v f do'not here claim the processset forth l ghting and throwing into the air a. pyrotechnic projectile, nor do we here claim the described tire-ball, as such will form the subjectmatter of a separate application for Letters Having thus fully described our invention, 5S what we claim as-new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

A torch for illuminating and pyrotechnic display, consisting ot' a 'tube extending. within 6o the wick-tube of an' oil-lamp, said tube containing aplunger adapted to be moved by an elastic medium, and also provided with afriction-lining, and havinga suitableaperture for the introduction ofthe projectile, substantially 6: as and for thezfpurpose described. i'

In testimoniyw-hereof we have signed our names to this-s ecitication in the presence of two subscrib itnesses. CHARLES H. WIDGER.

Witnesses 'l ts largest diame- 

